Scoop handle retaining assembly

ABSTRACT

A scoop retaining assembly provides for the storage of a scoop within a container. The scoop retaining assembly comprises a head portion and cap member adapted for magnetic attraction between them, with retaining members adapted to receive and retain a scoop handle. The cap member is separable from the head portion whereby the scoop retaining assembly may be connected to a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the container to effect a magnetic connection therethrough. The retaining arms are provided with a series of channels for receiving the scoop handle in either a vertical or horizontal orientation as the scoop retaining assembly is positioned within the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/287,600, filed Jan. 27, 2016, entitled “Scoop Handle Retaining Assembly,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers for storing contents that are ladled or scooped from the container. More specifically, the invention relates to storing a scoop device within the container for ready access by the user.

BACKGROUND

Materials of a liquid, granular or powder form that are stored in a container are generally extracted through the use of a scoop, spoon or ladle (all such devices referred to generally here throughout as a “scoop”). In the context of the present invention, such containers can be of a type for storing foodstuffs, drugs, liquids or vitamin supplements, to name just a few.

The problem exists in keeping the scoop associated with the container so that it does not become misplaced when not in use, and to ensure its ready accessibility when it is needed for use. Merely placing the scoop loosely in the container so that it sits on top of the contents offers no adequate solution because as the level of the material in the container drops over time, the scoop drops too far down in the container for easy reach and can be lost within the contents if the container is stored on its side. Furthermore, having to reach within the contents to locate the scoop can introduce contaminants (e.g., germs) into the contents.

It would therefore be desirable to provide means for storing the scoop within the container so that is available whenever the user wishes to access the container's contents. It would be further desirable to provide for the scoop to be accessible without having to reach down within the depths of the container when the contents are at a low level. It would be further desirable to provide for the scoop to be attached to the container so that the user can readily take the scoop without having to fumble around for it. It would be further desirable to provide for the assembly to be detachable so that it can be used with other containers.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an assembly for providing a scoop to be retained within a container for ready accessibility for withdrawing contents from the container. An embodiment provides for the scoop assembly to be attached to an underneath side of the lid for the container. Where the container comprises a bag that may not have a detachable lid, the scoop assembly may be attached to an interior wall or side of the container itself.

An embodiment of the scoop assembly comprises a retaining member for receiving a scoop handle. The retaining member has receiving channels for receiving the edges of the scoop handle. A first series of receiving channels can be oriented for holding the scoop in a vertical orientation within the container. A second series of receiving channels can be arranged in the scoop assembly for holding the scoop in a horizontal orientation within the container. The scoop assembly has a connection portion comprising a head member for engagement against an interior portion of the container. The head member receives a magnet element. A cap member, which also receives a magnet element, is provided for placement on the exterior portion of the container. For containers that comprise a rigid body with a lid, the head member and cap member are placed on opposite sides of the lid. Where the container comprises a flexible bag without a lid, the head member and cap member are placed on opposite sides of the container's wall or side. By placing the cap member and head member in corresponding alignment respectively on the exterior and interior surfaces of the container, the scoop assembly can be held in place within the container to provide ready access to the scoop by the user.

The magnet elements in the head member and cap member permit the scoop assembly to be removably attached to a container for use with multiple containers.

These and other features of the present invention are described in greater detail below in the section titled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, with greater emphasis being placed on clarity rather than scale:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scoop retaining assembly.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the scoop retaining assembly as attached to a container or lid.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally along and down the center of the assembly when attached to a container lid.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the scoop retaining assembly holding a scoop in vertical orientation in a container.

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the scoop retaining assembly holding a scoop in horizontal orientation in a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosed subject matter, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the disclosed technology in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description, and are shown in the drawings, and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left may refer to the disclosed subject matter as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” may refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

With reference to the drawings figures, an embodiment of the scoop retaining assembly of the present invention is herein described, shown, and otherwise disclosed.

The scoop retaining assembly 10 is generally shown in FIG. 1. It comprises a head portion 12 and retaining arm members 14 and 16. Scoop retaining assembly 10 is preferably constructed of plastic, but other low cost materials generally known to a person having skill in the art may also be used. Retaining arm members 14 and 16 depend downwardly from head portion 12 and are spaced apart from each other. Preferably, the distal ends 18 and 20 of the retaining arm members lie slightly closer to each other than the proximal portions of the retaining arm members with respect to the head portion. This provides an effective spring-like force that urges the retaining arm members back towards each other when spread apart.

A first series of channels 22 and 24 are provided in the interior surfaces of retaining arm members 14 and 16 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Channels 22 and 24 begin at the respective distal ends of retaining arm members 14 and 16 and run longitudinally along the retaining arm members. A second series of channels 26 and 28 are provided and run transversely across the retaining arm members 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 2. In this arrangement of channels, the handle 30 of a scoop 32 may be held alternatively in a vertical or horizontal position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

A scoop 32 generally is provided with a handle 30 that is comprised of a flat, blade-like element. The channels of scoop retaining assembly 10 are configured to receive the edges of handle 30 by inserting the flat blade handle within the channels. For holding scoop 32 in a vertical position in a container 50 as shown in FIG. 5, scoop handle 30 is inserted in the first series of channels 22 and 24. The biased spacing of the retaining arm members provides a spring-like force that helps retain scoop handle 30. For holding scoop 32 in a horizontal position in a container 50 as shown in FIG. 6, scoop handle 30 is inserted in the second series of channels 26 and 28.

Scoop retaining assembly 10 is adapted for removable attachment to a container. The container may be of the type that comprises a rigid body with a lid, or it may comprise a flexible bag container that may not have a lid per se. As shown in FIG. 1, head portion 12 is provided with receptacle 34 for receiving a magnet. A magnetized cap member 36 is separately provided for placement in corresponding alignment with head portion 12. Cap member 36 may itself be magnetized, or may have a receptacle for receiving a magnet. Also, head portion 12 may itself be magnetized such that the receptacle 34 may not be necessary. Alternatively, either of cap member 36 or head portion 12 may comprise a magnetized element while the other is comprised of material that is attracted to the magnet, but not itself a magnet per se. For example, cap member 36 may comprise a magnet while head portion 12 may simply be comprised of a metallic material that is attracted to the magnet of cap member 36. In other words, cap member 36 and head portion 12 should be comprised of materials to enable an attraction between them.

In an embodiment provided for attaching the scoop retaining assembly to a container lid 38, head portion 12 is placed against an interior surface 40 of the lid 38. Cap member 36 is placed on the exterior surface 42 of lid 38 in corresponding alignment with head portion 12. The magnetic attraction between head portion 12 and cap member 36 hold scoop retaining assembly 10 in place on lid 38. To remove scoop retaining assembly 10, one simply separates cap member 36 from its alignment with head portion 12. In this fashion, scoop retaining assembly may be reused in other containers.

In an embodiment provided for attaching the scoop retaining assembly to a flexible bag container, head portion 12 is placed against an interior surface of the flexible bag container. Cap member 36 is placed on the exterior surface of the flexible bag container in corresponding alignment with head portion 12. The magnetic attraction between head portion 12 and cap member 36 hold scoop retaining assembly 10 in place on the side of the flexible bag container. To remove scoop retaining assembly 10, one simply separates cap member 36 from its alignment with head portion 12. In this fashion, scoop retaining assembly may be reused in other containers. When used with a flexible bag container, the scoop retaining assembly can be placed at various positions along the sides of the container.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to various particular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A scoop retaining assembly for storing a scoop within a container, the assembly comprising: a head portion, retaining arm members, and a cap member, the retaining arm members depending from the head portion, the retaining members adapted to receive and retain a scoop handle, the cap member being separate from the head portion, the head portion and cap member adapted for magnetic attraction between them, whereby the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the container to effect a magnetic connection therethrough.
 2. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 1 in which the head portion comprises a first magnetically attractive member and the cap member comprises a second magnetically attractive member.
 3. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 1 in which the retaining members define a plurality of channels adapted to receive edges of a scoop handle.
 4. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 3 in which a first series of channels are disposed along a longitudinal orientation in the retaining members so as to be adapted to receive the scoop handle in a vertical orientation with respect to the retaining members.
 5. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 3 in which a second series of channels are disposed in a transverse orientation in the retaining members so as to be adapted to receive the scoop handle in a horizontal orientation with respect to the retaining members.
 6. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 1 in which the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a lid of a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the container lid.
 7. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 1 in which the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a side of a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the side of the container.
 8. A scoop retaining assembly for storing a scoop within a container, the assembly comprising: a head portion, retaining arm members, a cap member, and a scoop member having a handle, the retaining arm members depending from the head portion, the retaining members adapted to receive and retain the handle of the scoop member, the cap member being separate from the head portion, the head portion and cap member adapted for magnetic attraction between them, whereby the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the container to effect a magnetic connection therethrough.
 9. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 8 in which the head portion comprises a first magnetically attractive member and the cap member comprises a second magnetically attractive member.
 10. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 8 in which the retaining members define a plurality of channels adapted to receive edges of a scoop handle.
 11. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 10 in which a first series of channels are disposed along a longitudinal orientation in the retaining members so as to be adapted to receive the scoop handle in a vertical orientation with respect to the retaining members.
 12. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 10 in which a second series of channels are disposed in a transverse orientation in the retaining members so as to be adapted to receive the scoop handle in a horizontal orientation with respect to the retaining members.
 13. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 8 in which the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a lid of a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the container lid.
 14. The scoop retaining assembly of claim 8 in which the scoop retaining assembly is adapted for connection to a side of a container by aligning the head portion and cap member on opposing surfaces of the side of the container. 